A poem by Paul Rogers inspired by the Pando grove.

In 2019, we began to see the face of progress at Pando and register some success — though we have a long way to go.

Paul Rogers recently sat down with Utah Public Radio’s “Undisciplined” host, Matthew LaPlante, and inorganic chemist, Lisa Berreato, to weigh in on some potential connections between the Pando forest and inorganic chemistry. An interesting conversation emerged.

The first comprehensive assessment of the Pando aspen clone by researchers Paul Rogers and Darren McAvoy reveals critical threats to this unique single-tree forest.

The Pando clone embodies linkages along many vectors: roots to stems, soil to plants, birds to boles, life to death to rebirth. Our social community and the ideas spurred from within that gathering linked previously disparate entities, too.

“I’ve spent the past several years looking intensely at the Pando clone, trying to understand the situation, and bring people of differing backgrounds together to help this iconic forest through a difficult time.  I call it Pando triage.” 

One thing I’ve learned through all of my work is that even the most intimate ecological knowledge will only get us so far without understanding how our individual interests are interdependent as opposed to being in conflict.  That requires understanding each other, including those with whom we disagree. 

The Pando clone, like many complex natural resource issues, is ultimately a reflection of our society—of
how humans function on a fragile planet.

The breaking wave of media attention surrounding Pando is, I believe, a positive sign.